There’s been a lot of debate over the years over the health benefits of coffee. Now, the trend is towards the positive site, as some well-designed studies show benefit in some diseases.… Read the rest
Category Archives: Illness
What Works For The Common Cold?
It’s definitely common cold season. So, it’s a good time to review what treatments actually work for the common cold. The New York Times has a nice review today (Patient Money – Tips to Treat a Cold or Flu, With Your Wallet in Mind) of treatments for the common cold.… Read the rest
Chinese Medicine & Flu: A Q&A With TCM Doctor
Last week, I discussed Chinese herbs and the flu, and the difficulties I had in finding excellent studies either for or against their effectiveness. After that post, I was introduced to Dr Greg Livingston, an American doctor trained in Chinese Medicine and practicing in Hangzhou.… Read the rest
How Good are N95 Masks For Pollution?
When I lived in Beijing (from 2006 to 2016), I got a lot of questions from expats in Beijing, especially bikers and people walking to work, who wondered whether any type of mask was helpful against the air pollution. I also biked to work so I was curious as well.… Read the rest
Soy & Breast Cancer: It May Help, Not Harm
There have been differing opinions whether or not soy products prevent or cause breast cancer. Now, two major recent studies provide reassurance to women that soy is actually helpful, especially regarding recurrence.
This week’s Journal of the American Medical Association reviews a large 5,000 person Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study.… Read the rest
H1N1 Seems Much Milder Than Expected
There’s good news on the H1N1 front; it seems that the pandemic’s severity is less than initially feared. In fact, the worldwide numbers so far show that overall mortality is much less than the 1% we would see in the seasonal flu.… Read the rest